Lagos Assembly supports autonomy of judiciary, legislature

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday declared support for a non legislated Executive Order of President Muhammadu Buhari, granting autonomy to state legislature and judiciary. The lawmakers had demanded governors of the 36 states of the federation to implement the Executive Order of President Buhari on autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary.

Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa II, in the state legislature, at the plenary on Tuesday, raised a motion considered Matter of Urgent Public Importance, on the Executive Order from the president on judiciary and legislature autonomy and the need for its enforcement by governors of the various states.

The lawmakers, in response to the national strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASUN), protesting the non-implementation of autonomy of the judiciary, unanimously supported the motion, leading to the resolution for implementation of judiciary autonomy in accordance with the president’s Executive Order.

The House acknowledged that the protesting workers were expressing their frustrations with the national strike, insisting that governors must address these frustrations and implement the autonomy of the judiciary and legislature as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution as amended.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, in his motion, noted that former Lagos State governors implemented and sustained the financial autonomy of the judiciary and legislature in the state. He commended the striking workers for standing firm for democracy.

The lawmakers had stated: “We want to commend all the governors that have served in Lagos State from 1999 to date, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode.

“Also, the incumbent Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for implementing and sustaining financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary in the state.

“We want to commend PASUN and JUSUN for standing by democracy through their peaceful strike.

“Also, we want to urge the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures to have the political will to defend their autonomy.”

The House in consensus urged governors of other states to emulate Lagos in the implementation of autonomy of the judiciary and the legislature.